Before the body, mind the “mind”…PREPARE

Before the body, mind the “mind”…PREPARE

The excitement of something new can wane. When passion stalls, results stall, and then we lose in every way imaginable. So, before you start preparing your meals, your to-do list, or any willPower-ful endeavor, take some time to PREPARE your mind. Here are some golden rules to guide you:

1. Don’t start until you’re ready.
It’s a feeling inside. No sense of beginning until you have it. When you’re not ready, motivation lacks and the body resists. Meditate. Ground yourself. Identify what moves you and pay attention to the inspiration all around you. Your body will follow your mind.

3. Love exactly where you are (vs. where you were or where you want to be).
Find the novelties and niceties of this day…no matter how trivial. (“I am grateful for this cup of coffee” has made my list MANY times!) Why is life good right where you are? Jot it down if you can. Otherwise, make a mental list as you drive to work…or as you rock your baby to sleep. Gratitude accelerates everything.

4. Steer clear of the have-nots or hardships.
When we harp on how difficult it is (whatever “it” is), results slow to a halt, pounds stick, eyes appear dull, fatigue accumulates, and we attract more struggle. Our internal reward system takes note as well. If we intrinsically like what we are doing, we feel less need to reward ourselves…because we are already in a happy place. If we perceive total drudgery, we bust out the booze, the pizza, the credit card…because our minds are signaling to our bodies to self-medicate.

5. Find solutions, not excuses.
We all have busy schedules and different constraints. Instead of saying, “I can’t because…”, figure out how you can. If you allow your desire to grow sufficiently strong, you will find a way.

6. Connect this mini-journey to your life journey.
Connection makes the new task integral to or symbolic in your life. It can connect forward or back.

Sarah Ingmanson

Sarah is a studio owner, fitness instructor and competitor. She is a former investment banker and equity research analyst with her MBA from the Wharton School and her MA in International Affairs from the Lauder Institute of the University of Pennsylvania. Sarah is fluent in Japanese and consults with Japanese companies on corporate governance, finance, and investor relations. Sarah's interest in Japan stemmed from her first tour with Disney On Ice as a professional figure skater. For more info on Sarah and her studio, visit www.starslocker.com.